I dont understand the design choice of the new NC either. We dont need a lock screen when we are on the home screen, and like above posters said, we have to make extra swipes now just to see older notififations. Like I always said, if its not broken, dont fix it and IMO they broke it last year with iOS 10. iOS 9 notification was just perfect both in notification center and on lock screen. The blurred screen when you had notification was easier to read on the eyes on mornings or in late night and thats the goal for notifications : quick and easy to read and iOS 10 is the opposite of that.